Fine structure in the α decay of $^{179}$Hg and $^{177}$Au
Abstract The$$\upalpha $$ α -decay fine structure of$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg and$$^{177}$$ 177 Au was studied by means of decay spectroscopy. Two experiments were performed at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (JYFL), Finland, utilizing the recoil separator RITU and a digital data acquisition system. The heavy-ion induced fusion-evaporation reactions$$^{82}_{36}$$ 36 82 Kr + $$^{100}_{44}$$ 44 100 Ru and$$^{88}_{38}$$ 38 88 Kr + $$^{92}_{42}$$ 42 92 Mo were used to produce the$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg and$$^{177}$$ 177 Au nuclei, respectively. Studying the evaporation residues (ER, recoils)-$$\alpha _1$$ α 1 -$$\alpha _2$$ α 2 correlations and$$\upalpha $$ α -$$\gamma $$ γ coincidences, a new$$\upalpha $$ α decay with E$$_\alpha $$ α = 6156(10) keV was observed from$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg. This decay populates the (9/2$$^-$$ - ) excited state at an excitation energy of 131.3(5) keV in$$^{175}$$ 175 Pt. The internal conversion coefficient for the 131.3(5) keV transition de-exciting this state was measured for the first time. Regarding the$$^{177}$$ 177 Au nucleus, a new$$\upalpha $$ α decay with E$$_\alpha $$ α = 5998(9) keV was observed to populate the 156.1(6) keV excited state in$$^{173}$$ 173 Ir. Two de-excitation paths were observed from this excited state. Moreover, a new 215.7(13) keV transition was observed to depopulate the 424.4(13) keV excited state in$$^{173}$$ 173 Ir. Properties of the$$^{179}$$ 179 Hg and$$^{177}$$ 177 Au$$\upalpha $$ α decays were examined in a framework of reduced widths and hindrance factors. For clarity and simplicity, the spin and parity assignments (e.g.$$J^{\pi }$$ J π ) are presented without brackets throughout the text.